Samuel Chu
Encyclopedia
Samuel M. Chu is currently a fellow
at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at University of Southern California
, where he engages in research, writing and teaching around community organizing
, public leadership, and the role of religious institutions in social change.
A first-generation immigrant from Hong Kong
who grew up in a Southern Baptist household, Chu graduated from the University of California, San Diego
in 2000, majoring in political science
. He completed his studies at Fuller Theological Seminary
in 2002. He resides in Los Angeles, CA. He serves as Chair
and President
of the Board of Directors
of One LA-Industrial Areas Foundation
, one of the nation's largest community organizing
networks and of 1010 Development Corporation, a non-profit affordable housing
developer in Los Angeles rooted in the United Methodist tradition. He also served on board of directors of various other organizations such as the California Council of Churches.
Chu served as the Executive Director
of California Faith for Equality and California Faith for Equality Action Fund from January of 2009 to March of 2011. Chu was appointed as interim executive director in January 2009 and later appointed as CFE's first permanent executive director in April 2010 after an extensive national search. He was the first straight person to head a statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender supportive organization.
In 2008, Chu joined the effort, as a national director, to develop the national, bi-coastal network of youth development projects called WorkUp.
He served on the pastoral staff at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church USA) in Los Angeles, CA from 2002-2009., a well-known, multi-cultural, social justice congregation on Wilshire Blvd..
Chu is a frequent speaker and presenter at conferences, programs, and other training institutes, including the Presbyterian Church USA, Advancing Justice Conference, the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, and the United States Student Association.
He is currently a member at IKAR, a Jewish spiritual community that stands at the intersection of spirituality and social justice in Los Angeles, CA and also serves as special advisor and consultant for national advocacy and organizing for Mazon
, A Jewish Response to Hunger.
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, where he engages in research, writing and teaching around community organizing
Community organizing
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence...
, public leadership, and the role of religious institutions in social change.
A first-generation immigrant from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
who grew up in a Southern Baptist household, Chu graduated from the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
in 2000, majoring in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He completed his studies at Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
in 2002. He resides in Los Angeles, CA. He serves as Chair
Chair
A chair is a stable, raised surface used to sit on, commonly for use by one person. Chairs are most often supported by four legs and have a back; however, a chair can have three legs or could have a different shape depending on the criteria of the chair specifications. A chair without a back or...
and President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of One LA-Industrial Areas Foundation
Industrial Areas Foundation
The Industrial Areas Foundation is a national community organizing network established in 1940 by Saul Alinsky. IAF provides training and consultation, furnishes organizers, and develops national strategy for its affiliated broad-based community organizations. There are currently 57 IAF...
, one of the nation's largest community organizing
Community organizing
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence...
networks and of 1010 Development Corporation, a non-profit affordable housing
Affordable housing
Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...
developer in Los Angeles rooted in the United Methodist tradition. He also served on board of directors of various other organizations such as the California Council of Churches.
Chu served as the Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of California Faith for Equality and California Faith for Equality Action Fund from January of 2009 to March of 2011. Chu was appointed as interim executive director in January 2009 and later appointed as CFE's first permanent executive director in April 2010 after an extensive national search. He was the first straight person to head a statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender supportive organization.
In 2008, Chu joined the effort, as a national director, to develop the national, bi-coastal network of youth development projects called WorkUp.
He served on the pastoral staff at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church USA) in Los Angeles, CA from 2002-2009., a well-known, multi-cultural, social justice congregation on Wilshire Blvd..
Chu is a frequent speaker and presenter at conferences, programs, and other training institutes, including the Presbyterian Church USA, Advancing Justice Conference, the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, and the United States Student Association.
He is currently a member at IKAR, a Jewish spiritual community that stands at the intersection of spirituality and social justice in Los Angeles, CA and also serves as special advisor and consultant for national advocacy and organizing for Mazon
Mazon
-United States:* Mazon, Illinois, a village* Mazon Township, Illinois* Mazon Creek fossils* Mazon River-Other uses:*MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting world hunger...
, A Jewish Response to Hunger.
Sources
- LGBT POV: "Pastor Samuel Chu to Head California Faith for Equality," April 7, 2010, accessed July 13, 2010
- Bay Area Reporter: Matthew S. Bajko, "Bill would divorce religion from marriage," February, 2010, accessed July 13, 2010
- LGBT POV: Syd Peterson, "Grassroots Profile: Pastor Samuel M Chu," October 4, 2009, , accessed July 13, 2010
- Bilerico Project: Karen Ocamb, "The Tel Aviv Shootings Hit Home ," August 8, 2009, accessed July 13, 2010
- NewsReview: Kel Munger, "Jesus' queer sensibility," July 2, 2009, accessed July 13, 2010
- GLAAD: Ann Craig, "Faith Leaders in California Celebrate Gay Marriage in Iowa," April 3, 2009, , accessed July 13, 2010
- Los Angeles Times: Sara Catania, "L.A.'s marathon mix-up," March 1, 2009, accessed July 13, 2010
- Jewish Journal: Danielle Berrin, "When Crystal met Spielberg; A rabbi, a reverend and a pastor walk into a shul," October 30, 2008, accessed July 13, 2010
- Jewish Journal: Jay Firestone, "Activists champion Darfur in pre-Olympic vigil at Chinese Consulate in Koreatown," August 2008, accessed July 13, 2010